Reclining seat



c. E. FERRExRA 1,821,299

RECLINING SEAT Sept. 1, 1931.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May s, 1929 SePtl, 1931 D v c. E. FERREIRA 1,821,299

RECLINIG SEAT Filed May 8, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llIIIH @Y MR Patented Sept. 1,' 1931 CHARLES E. FERREIRA, F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA RECLINING SEAT Application filed May 8, 1929. Serial No. 861,356.

My invention relates to improvements in reclining seats wherein a seat frame provided with back and arms is pivot'ally mounted at the forward edge thereof upon a supporting base. the rearward portion of the frame being adapted to be supported in any of a plurality of positions, said frame being adapted to be tipped rearwardly upon its pivot mounting b v the weight of an occupant of the seat and automatically returned to normal position when relieved from the weight of the occupant.

My improved reclining seat. while suitable for general use as a reclining chair. is parbusses and the like to permit an occupant of the seat to adjust the seat to a desired reclining position adording increased comfort while traveling and to permit the occupant to sleep in comfort in the chair.

The primary object. of mv invention is to provide an improved recliningl seat.

Another object is to provide an improved seat having the seat trame and back movable together lto a reclining position without altering the angle between the seat bottom and the seat back.

A further obiect is to provide an improved reclining seat having the seat frame pivoted at its forward edge wherebv the seat may be tipped rearwardlyy to reclining position without raising the forward edge of the seat bottom. Y

Another object is to provide an improved seat movable to a reclining position adapted to produce increased comfort for an occupant and which will prevent the occupant from sliding forward out of natural reclining position.

Another object is to provide an improved chair of the character described which may be easily moved to a desired reclining yposition b v an occupant while seated, and which will be automatically returned to normal position when relieved from the weight of an occupant. t"

A further object is to provide an improved mechanism for adjustably supporting the seat in a desired position and aiiordjng a ticularly adapted for use as a seat for motorsimple and positive means for adjusting the seat to a desired reclining position.

A still further object is to provide an ilnproved adjustin mechanism which isrugged and elicient an which may be economically contructedand easily and eciently operate I accomplish these and other objects by means of the improved device disclosed in the drawings formin Y application wherein like characters of reference are used to designate similar parts throughout the specification and drawings, and in Whichf Fig. 1 is a broken sectional view of my im- 65 proved reclining-chair construction and operating mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a broken sectional view of the base and seat bottom, drawn upon a larger scale and disclosing the construction and operation 7U of the adjusting mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a broken pla-n view of the adjusting mechanism as mounted upon one side of the base;

Fig. d is a broken iront elevation ot my improved reclining chair structure; and

Fig. 5 is a, broken plan view of the structure as shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l is used to designate in general a supporting base, preferably comprising a pair of spaced parallel side members having inclined upper edges 2 sloping downwardlyv `from the front to the rear. A seat frame 3 is pivotally mounted upon the base 1 by means of pivot 35 pins 4 mounted at the forward end and near the top of they side members of the base and engaging bearing members 6 secured upon the seat frame adjacent the forward end thereof. The seat frame is provided with a. back frame 7 and arm members 8 secured to the seat frame and movable therewith, the back frame 7 being arranged atan angle to the seat frame 3 adapted to afford a com- 95 fortable sitting posture. In the drawings, I have illustrated only a skeleton frame, such as used in constructing Wicker chairs, but it is to be understood that the frame may be constructed of any suitable material and in a. part of' the present 60.

any desired form to receive upholstery or other finishing material.

The rearward end of the seat frame 3 is supported by means of supporting members 9 pivotally mounted as at 11 upon the inner sides ofthe base members 1 at points intermediate the ends of said members 9. The upper ends of the members 9 are arranged to engage the under sides of the seat frame 3 adjacent the rearward edge thereof, said ends preferably being provided with rollers 12 engaging channel guides 13 secured upon the seat frame.

rlhe lower ends of the supporting members 9 are provided with adjusting members 14 pivotally connected thereto and "extending forwardly substantially parallel to the bottom edge of the base 1. The members 14 are each provided with a plurality of detents 16 formed upon the lower edges thereof and adapted to engage a shaft 17 extending transversely across the base 1, the end portions of said shaft forming stops engaged by the detents 16 to normally prevent forward movement of the member 14, and the lower ends of the members 9. The forward ends of the members 14 are extended into housings 18 secured upon the inner sides of the base 1 and slotted as at 19 to permit movement of the forward ends of the members 14 horizontally and vertically therein.v Springs 21 are mounted within the housings 18 to normally hold the members. 14 firmly against the stops formed by the shaft 17.

Actuating arms 22 are ysecured upon the shaft 17 adjacent the members 14 and extend- 31 is mounted upon each rod 28 to be coming forwardly from the shaft 17 substan t-ially parallel to the forward ends of said member 14. The members 23 are arranged to engage the forward ends of the members 14, preferably by means of rollers 23 mounted upon the ends of the arms 22 and adapted to engage the lower edges of the members 14. The shaft 17 is arranged to be partially rotated to move the arms 22 upwardly to displace the members 14 and detents 16 thereof out of engagement with the ends of the shaft 17. The shaft 17 is preferably-rotated by means of an operating lever 24 secured to the shaftand extending upwardly along one side of the base 1 and through a slot 25 formed in the seat frame 3, the upper end of the lever Y extending to an operative position adjacent the adjacent arm member 8 and being pro- .vided with a suitable grip 26 whereby the A rod 28 is pivotally connected to the lower portion of each supporting member 9. said rod extending forwardly and upwardly through a guide 29. A compression spring pressed'between the guide 29 and a yoke 32 secured upon the rod 28 and by which said rod is connected to the member 9. The pressure of the springs 29 normally moves the lower ends of the members 9 to their extreme rearward positions as defined by suitable stops 33, thereby causing the upper ends of said member 9 to raise the seat frame 3 to its uppermost or normal upright position.

In operation, the rearward portion of the seat frame 3 normally rests upon the'upper ends of the members 9, said frame being held in a normal upright position as indicated in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. rl`he foremost detent 16 of each adjusting member 14 engages the stops formed by the ends of the shaft 17 to nor'mally hold the supporting member 9 in an operative supporting position. The lower ends of the members 9 are held against rearward movement by the stops 33, and the seat frame 3 is held against any upward movement by inwardly disposed flanges 13, formed upon the guides 13 and engaging the lower surfaces of the rollers 12.

' When it is desired to tip the seat rearwardly to a reclining position, the lever 24 is moved rearwardly from its normal posi' tion shown in full lines to a releasing position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby causing the Lshaft 17 to be partially rotated and the arms 22 raised to lift the adjusting members 14 clear of the shaft as indicatedsin heavy dotted lines in Figi?. The weight of an occupant of the chair will now cause the rearward end of the frame 3 to be moved downwardly, the members 9 being moved against the pressure of the springs 29 and the member 14 moved forwardly through the housings 18 as indicated in light dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. The lever 24 is returned to normal position to cause the members 14 to be lowered and desired detents 16 caused to engage the shaft 17 to hold the seat in a desired reclining position. In the extreme reclining positions indicatedA in the drawings, the edges of the seat frame 3 rest upon the inclined upper edges of the base 1.

So long as the weight of the person remains against the rearward position of the seat, the seat will be held -rigidly in adj ustedA position by engaging the upper edges of the base 1 or by kengagement of desired detents with the shaft 17. When the weight of the occupant is thrown forward or removed from the seat, the springs 28 operate to automatically return the members 9 and the seat frame to the normal position.

In the reclining position, the bottom andl back portions of the seat; remain in their fixed angular relation to each other while both the bottom and back portions are inclined at a reclining angle. By pivoting the seat at its forward end, the knees of an occupant ofthe chair will be supported in the same manner as when the seat is in normal upright position, thereby avoiding any strain or pressure upon the knees or legs of the' occupant. At the same time the rearwardly inclining position of the bottom portion of the seat will, prevent an occupant from sliding forwardly. This is particularly important in the case of seats installed in motor busses as the vibration and jolting A which occurs when a b us is in lnotion tends to shift the weightof an occupant forwardly in the seat with the back and body only partially supported and in an unnatural and uncomfortable position.

lVhilel have illustrated and described my invention in what I now regard as its preferred embodiment, the device is `of course subject to modification in numerousways without departing from the spirit of my invention.' I therefore do not wish to restrict myself to the specific ydetails of construc- Vao tion and arrangement as illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modiications which may fall within the lscope of the appended claims.

Having t-hus described my invent-ion what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-v 1. A reclining seat comprising a base; a seat frame .pivotally connected adjacent the forward edge thereof to the base; 4a back mounted upon the seat frame and movable therewith; a supporting member pivoted at a point intermediate its ends upon the base and having one end thereof engaging the seat frameadjacent the rearward edge to support the seat frame and back; an adjusting member pivotally connected to the opposite end ofthe supporting member and provided with a plurality of detents; a stop secured upon the base adjacent the adjusting member to be engaged by any df said detents to releasably secure the supporting member ina desired position; arid means for moving the adjusting member to be disengaged from the stop whereby the seat may be `tipped rearwardly from a normal upright position to a desired inclined position. j

2. A reclining seat-comprising a base; a seat frame pivotally connected adjacentthe forward edge thereof to the base; a back mounted upon the seat frame and movable therewith; a supporting member pivoted at a point intermediate its ends upon the basev and having one end thereof engaging the seat frame adjacent the rearward edge to to support the seat frame and back; `an ad-I justing member pivotally connected to the opposite endof the support-ing member and provided with a pluralityl of detents; a stop secured upon the base adjacent the adjusting member to be engaged by any of vsaid de-y tents to releasably secure the supporting member in a desired position; means moving Ythe adjustingl member toA be disenseat frame adjacent the rearward edge tosupport the seat frame and bacli; an adjusting member pivotally connected to the opposite end of the supporting member and providedwith a plurality of detents; a stop secured upon the base adjacent the adjusting melnber to be engaged by any of said devtents to releasably secure the supporting member in a desired position; means for moving the adjusting member to be disengaged from the stop whereby the seat may be tipped rearwardly from a normal upright position to a desired inclined position; and spring means adapted to automatically -move the supporting member and seat frame from an inclined position to normal upright position when relieved from the weight of an occupant.

4. 'A reclining seat comprising a base; al

seat frame pivotally connected adjacent the forward edge thereof to `the base; a back mounted upon the seat frame and movable therewith; a pair of supporting members mounted upon the base upon oppositesides of the seat, said members being pivoted at points intermediate their ends and having one end of each member engaging the seatframe adjacent the rearward edge to support said seat frame and back; adjusting niembers pivotally connected to the opposite ends of the supporting members and each provided with a plurality of detents; stops secured upon the base adjacent the adjusting member wto be engaged by the detents' to releasably secure the supporting members .in desired posit-ions; means for moving the -adjusting members to be disengaged from the stops whereby the seat may be tipped rearwardly fi'om a normal upi' right position toa desired inclined position;

and means for normally moving the supporting members to normal upright position.

5.' reclining seat comprising a base; a seat frame pivotally connected adjacent the forward edge thereof to the base; a pair of supporting members mounted upon the base upon opposite sides of the seat, said members being pivoted at points intermediate their ends and having one end ofeach member engaging, the seat frame adjacent the rearward edge to supportsad frame; ad-

justing members pivotallyconnected to the/lo/ opposite ends of the supporting members and each provided with a plurality of detents; stops secured upon the base adjacent the adj usting member to be/engaged by the detents to releasably secure the supporting members in desired positions; means normally holding the releasing members inengageineiit with the stops; lever actuated means for moving the adjusting members out of engagement with the stops whereby the seat may be tipped reaiwardly from normal position to a desired inclined position; and means for normally movthe supporting members to normal upright position. i

6. A reclining seat comprising a base; a seat frame pivotally connected adjacent the forward edge thereof to the base; a pair of supporting members mounted upon the base upon opposite sides of the seat, said members being pivoted at points intermediate their ends and having one end of each member engaging the seat frame adjacent the re-arward edge thereof to support said frame; adjusting means connected to the supporting members and provided with a plurality of detents; a stop secured upon the base adjacent the adjusting member to be engaged by the detents to releasably secure the supporting members in desired positions; means normally holding the adjusting means in engagement with the stop lever actuated means for moving the detents out of engagement with the stop whereby the seat may be tipped rearwardly" from a normal upright position to a desired inclined position by the weight of an occupant of the chair; and means for normally moving the supporting members to normal upright position.

7. A reclining seat comprising a base; a

seat frame pivotally connected adjacent the forward edge thereof to the base; a pair of supporting members mounted upon the base upon opposite sides of the seat, said members being pivoted at points intermediate their ends and having one end of each member engaging the seat frame adjacent the rearward edge thereof to support said frame; guides mounted upon the frame and engaging said ends of the supporting members; adjusting members connected to the opposite ends of the supporting members and each provided with a plurality Vof detents; stops secured upon the base adjacent the adjusting member l to be engaged by the detents to releasably secure the supporting members in desired positions; means normally holding the adjusting members in engagement with the stops; lever actuated means foi' moving the adjusting-v members lout of engagement with the stops whereby the seat may be tipped rearwardly from a normal upright position to a desired inclined position by the weight of an occupant of the chair; and means for normally moving the supporting members to normal upright posit-ion.

8. A reclining seat comprising a base; a seat frame pivotally connected adjacent the forward edge thereof to the base; a pair of supporting members mounted uponI the base upon opposite sides of the seat, said members being pivoted at points intermediate their ends; guides mounted adjacentj the rearward edge of the seat frame and engaged by the upper ends of the supporting members; adjusting members connected to the lower ends of the supporting members and each provided with a plurality of detents; stops secured upon the base adjacenttlie adjusting member to be engaged by the detents; means-normally holding the adjusting members in engagement with the stops; actuating arms pivotally mounted adjacent the adjusting members; and an operating lever connected to the actuating arms whereby said arms may be actuated to move the adjusting members out of engagement with the stops to permit the seat frame to be tipped rearwardly from a normal upright position to a desired reclining position by the Weight of an occupant of the seat.

9. A `reclining 'seat comprising a base; a seat frame pivotally connected adjacent the forward edgejthereof to the base; a pair of supporting members mounted upon the base upon opposite sides of the seat, said members being pivoted at points intermediate their ends; guides mounted adjacent the rearward edge of the seat frame and engaged by the upper ends ofthe supporting members; adj ustingmembers.connected to the lower ends of the supporting members and each provided with a plurality of detents; stops secured upon the base adjacent the adjusting member to be engaged by the detents; means normally holding the adjusting members in engagement with the stops; actuating arms pivotally mounted adjacent the adjusting/members; an operating lever connected to the actuating arms whereby said arms may be actuated to move the adjusting members out of engagement with the stops to permit the seat frame In witness whereof, I hereunto set my sigf A nature.

CHARLES E. FERREIRA. 

